D-top



April-21, 1931- w. H. BERGMANN 1,802,166

D-TOP Filed Sept. 16, 1929 me/nto@ UNITED Patented Apr. 21, 1931 TES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM BERGMANN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN vFORK &

HOE COMPANY, OF CLEVELANDfOHIO, A CORPORATON OF OHIO ID-TOP Application led September 16, 1922. Serial No. 392,911.

My invention relates to D-tops for implements and relates particularly to D-tops of the type adapted to be rigidly secured as a unit to the end of an implement shaft to se- 6 curely support a hand grip vbetween yprongs of the D-top.

An object of my Yinvention is to provide an improved metallic D-top for implements.

Another object of my invention is to pro- 10 vide an improved substantially tubular metallic D-top so constructed as to facilitate its ready manufacture in quantity produc# tion.

vide an improved metallic D-top in two halves which of themselves are adapted to be interlocked for convenience in assembly and ship- .ment pending the operationv of aiiixing the halves to an implement.

Another object of my invention is to provide for the accomplishment of any of the foregoing objects in a metallic D-top which has a smooth exterior surface without sharp edges engageable by the 'hands of. an operator of the tool to which the D-top has been applied.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved D-top which will be sturdy and strong, resisting breakage and bending in use, and which may be formed from metallic blanks stamped from a sheet of metal in such a way that very little waste metal will be left in thesheet after successive of the stampings are blanked therefrom.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved two-piece substantially tu- Another object of my invention is to pro-V thereof, and which isillustrated in theV ac*- companying drawings. n

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a Dstop embodying my invention. I Y Y Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the D-top of Fig. l; v

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of one of the two metallic halves of the D-top of Figs. 1 and 2 taken approximately from the plane 3 of Fig. 2 and with a wood handle which I employ omitted and drawn to a lsmaller scale. l c

Fig. 4' is a view taken approximately from the plane 4 of Fig. 2 with the wood handle omitted; v

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary elevationalV views taken respectively from the planes 5 and 6 of Fig. 3 but drawn to the same scale as Figs. 1, 2 and 4;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately from the plane 7 of Fig. 1 and with parts beyond the section plane omitted for simplicity.

Referring now to the drawings illustrating a D-top of improved construction embodying my invention, in all of which like parts are designated by like reference characters, at 1 I show one of a pair of comple- Y mentary sheet metal stampings which are adapted to be placedl face toface to form a tubular stale-socket'with a pair of hand grip supporting tubular arms extending divergently from the stale-socket.

The stamping comprises a stem portion 2 of nearly semi-cylindrical channel form and a pair of divergently extending arms 3 and 4, likewise of channel form, being substantially U-shaped in all transverse sections, excepting the end portions.

The inner side walls of the arm channels A3 and 4l are joined by an integral web 5, which of theiother stamping, as illustrated in Figi.

In the above described relation, the channeled walls ofV the one stamping substantially serves as a closure for the channel of the other stamping, to provide substantiallj,v tubular construction involving a tubular stalesocket formed Yby the complementary stem elements 2 and divergent hand grip supporting substantially tubular arms formed by the complementary stamping channels 3 and 4.

The ends of the arms 3 and 4 for each ot the stampings are suitably termed so that when the two stampings are brought together, an interlocking relation between the stampings atg the arm ends is accomplished in such a way as torhold the stampings together by their arm ends, and to provide for the holding of a hand grip 6 between the ends of the tubular arms formed.

The grip supporting ends 9 and 10pt the arms 3 and 4, respectively, for each stamping, are approximately in the form of discs integrally joined by a peripheral portion 1l to the outer walls 7 and 7 of the channeled arms 3 and 4, respectively. The disc-shaped ends are each centrally perforated tor the reception of a grip supporting bolt 8 passed through the disc ends for the twoastampings andthe longitudinal bore of the grip, in the usual manner.

The complementary pair of stampings are brought together with their channel edges dining a seam 12, which preferably may be widened at 13 in the stale-socket, and adjacent arm portions, the seam extending longitudinally and medially of the Vhandle throughout its width.

The seam may be widened at 13 in order that the tubularfstale-socket having the widened seam may accommodate varioussized handle ends of a. handle such as 14 projected therein and clamped therebetween by bolts 15 projected through perforations 17 of the D-top halves, and through the handle shank 14, telescoped within the stale-socket.

Ordinarily unitary D-tops tor implement handles are manufactured complete ready for attachment to the implement handles and are often subsequently shipped to iinplement factories for attachment to implements, and in order best to tit these in the D-top arm described, without requiring a disassembly and reassembly oi thc eo1nplcmentary D-top parts, as above described, inde endently of the implement handle 14, and independently of the grip 6, by securing the disc-like ends of the arms 3 and 4 ot the two complementary parts rigidly together ready,v for use.

In order to accomplish this, the disc-like end 10 of the arm 4 is formed with flange side walls 11 to form a cap for the reception o't the disc-like end 9 of the coinplementar),v stamping.

The disc end 9 of the channeled arm 3 is abruptly ott-set as at 18 relative to the adjacent outer wall 7 of the channel, whereas the disc shaped wall of the arm end 10 is disposed substantially in alignment with the outer wall 7 of the channel arm 4.

In assembling the two halves of the D-top together, therefore, the disc-like end 9 of the one stamping is nested within the flange side walls 11 of the end 10 of the other stamping and vice versa, as shown in Fig. 4. Also, as shown in Fig. 4, the flange side wall 11 projects over and beyond the disc-like end 9 as at 18 and thus provides a pocket into which the end ofthe grip 6 may be seated.

Cooperative with the pocket 21 thus provided, the inner walls 19 of the arms 3 and 4 adjacent the ends 9 and 10 are cut away as at 20 to lit around the curved surface of the grip 6. Thus, at each end of the grip 6, the ends 9 and 10 are interlocked together.

By means of the off-set 18, the outer walls 7 and 7 of the two channels are brought into substantially planular alignment although the oil-set disc end 9 is projected inwardly within the flanged dise end 10 of the other arm.

To prevent rotation of the grip 6 on the bolt 8, the disc ends 9 are preferably provided with relatively sharp inwardly directed projections 22 which project into the wood material of the grip.

The D-top illustrated and described oomprises tubular side walls which are sufficiently closed as to prevent objectionable ingress of dirt and moisture. The tubular arms have peripheral walls throughout their lengths from the point where they join the stalesocket to the grip supporting portions 9 and 10, which, as described, are of disc-form to conform to the shape ot the grip ends.

The grip ends being received within the flange side walls 11', the grip is given a tinished appearance and all portions of the D-top, particularly the grip portions which come into contact with the users hands, are free of rough edges.

The widened seam 13 between opposing edges of the two stampings effects a resiliently compressible stale-socket.

`When the socket is telescoped over the end of a handle and bolts 15 projected through the complementary stale-socket halves, and the drilled handle 14, and the bolts 8 headed over on both sides, the stale-socket halves are drawn down very tightly together against the resiliency of the resilient material forming the substantially tubular D-top, the loweil portions of which are adapted to resiliently fulcrum on the shoulders 24 of the joined complementary D-top halves.

Having thus described my invention in a partlcular embodiment, I am aware that nu merous and extensive departures may be made from the embodiment herein illustrated and' described, butl without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:`

l. In a D-top, the combination of Vtwo bifurcated channeled elements adapted to be disposed in opposition, edge to edge, to define a substantially tubular stale-socket and a pair of divergent communicating tubular arms extending therefrom, each element arm provided with a projecting integral end portion, one said end portion of each element enfolding the other end portion of the other element.

2. In a D-top, the combination of two bifurcated channeled elements adapted to be disposed in opposition, edge to edge, to define a substantially tubular stale-socket and a pair Vof divergent tubular arms extending therefrom, an end of each element arm enfolding an end of an arm of the other element, the enfolded end being inwardly offset relative to contiguous portions of its supporting arm.

3. A sheet metal D-top including` a pair of complementary vstampings of generally Y- form each channeled on one face to form a nearly semi-cylindrical stale-socket stem portion, and a pair of channeled arm portions extending divergently therefrom, said stampings adapted to be placed face to face, means formed integral with said stampings adapted to secure the stampings together by their arm portions when the stampings are disposed to form a handle-receiving stalesocket and tubular grip supportable arms, and means to tightly clamp said stale-socket portions inwardly against the end of animplement handle projecting therebetween. f

4. A sheet metal D-top including a pair of complementary stampings of generally Y- form each channeled on one face to form a nearly semi-cylindrical stale-socket stem portion, and a pair of channeled arm portions extending divergently therefrom, said stampings adapted to be placed face to face, and means comprising interlocking portions of the arms adapted to secure the arms together when the stampings aredisposed to form a handle-receiving stale-socket, and tubular grip supportable arms.

5. A D-top comprising a pair of complementary bifurcated substantially Y-shaped elements each having a channeled stem and integral lchanneled arms extending divergently therefrom, said stems adapted to receive an end of an implement shank projected therebetween, and means comprising interlocking portions of complementary arms of said elements to secure the elements together, at the ends of the arms.

6. A sheet metal D-top including a pair of complementary stampings of generally Y- form each channeled on one face to form a nearly semi-cylindrical stale-socket stem portion, and a pair of channeled arm portions extending 4divergently therefrom, said stampings adapted to be placed face to face to form a bifurcated tube, each channeled arm terminating ina substantially iat sheet metal plate integrally formed therewith, and adapted for disposition at an end of a hand grip interconnecting the arms, two of said plates of different stampings being disposed at each end of the hand grip in superposed relation, anda boltprojecting longitudinally through the grip, joining at least two of said plates disposed on opposite ends of the grip.

7. In a D-top, the combination of two bifurcated channeled elements adapted to be disposed in opposition, edge to edge, to define a substantially tubular stale-socket and a pair of divergent communicating tubular arms extending therefrom, each element arm provided with a` projecting integral end portion,a said end portion for each arm having inwardly directed flanges, each adapted to receive one of the other of said end portions, and a bored hand grip for circular ends disposed in abutting relation between the said received endportions, and bolt means to securely clamp -the said end portions against the ends of said grip.

8. kIn a D-top, the combination of two like bifurcated channeled elements adapted to be brought together in opposed relation to 'deline asubstantially tubular stale-socket and a pair of divergent tubular arms extending therefrom, the arms for each element both terminating in integrally laterally extend-y ing plates adaptedto embrace the ends of a hand grip placed between the plate ends of the arms, the plates being disposed in parallel planes, the plates of the two elements at each end of the grip being in superposed relation.

9. A sheet metal D-top including a pair of complementary stampings of generally Y- form each channeled on one face to form a 'nearly semi-cylindrical stale socket stem portion, and a pair of channeled arm portions extending divergently therefrom, said stampings adapted to be placed in opposition edge tol edge, each arm portion at its end overlapping a part of the opposite arm.

l0. A sheet metal D-t-op including a'pair of complementary stampings of generally Y-form each channeledl on one face to form la nearly semi-cylindrical stale socket stemv portion, and a pair of channeled arm portions extending divergently therefrom, said stamp- Y Vings adapted to be placed in opposition edge to edge, each arm portion at its end overlapping a part of the opposite arm, and formed to interlock them against opposite separation.

1l. A sheet metal D-top including a pair of complementary stampings of generally Y-form each channeled on one face to form a substantially semi-cylindrical sta-le socket stem portion, and a pairof channeled arm portions extending divergently therefrom,

said stampings adapted to be placed in oppo sition edge to edge, each arm portion overlapping a part of the opposite arm, a hand grip between the pairs of overlapping arm ends, and a bolt extending through a pair of overlapped ends and into the hand grip.

12. A sheet metal D-top including a pair of complementary stampings of generally Y-form each channeled on one face to form a Substantially nearly semi-cylindrical stale socket stem portion, and a pair of channeled arm portions extending divergently there from, said stampings adapted to be placed face to face in opposition, each arm portion at its end being provided with an integral plate over-lapping a corresponding plate of the opposite arm end, a hand grip extending between the pairs of overlapped plates, the plates being provided with aligned perforations and a bolt extending through a pair of perforations of the plates and into the hand 13. A sheet metal D-top including a pair of complementary stampings of generally Y-form each channeled on one face to form a nearly semicylindrical stale socket stem portion, and a pair of channeled arm portions extending divergently therefrom, said stampings adapted to be placed face to face in opposition, each arm portion at its end being provided with an integral plate overlapping a corresponding plate of the opposite arm end, one of the plates of each pair being provided with a perimetral flange overlapping the perimeter of the other plate of the pair to interlock the plates against opposite separation.

14. A sheet metal D-top including a pair of complementary stampings of generally Y-forin each channeled on one face to form a. nearly semi-cylindrical stale socket stem portion, and a pair of channeled arm portions extending divergently therefrom, said stampings adapted to be placed face to face in opposition, each arm portion at its end being provided with an integral plate overlapping a corresponding plate of the opposite arm end, one ot' the plates of each pair being provided with a perimetral flange overlapping the perimeter of the other plate of the pair to interlock the plates against opposite separation, a hand grip extending bet-Ween the pairs of overlapped plates and the said flanges overlapping the ends of the hand grip.

15. A sheet metal D-top including a pair of complementary stampings of generally Y-form each channeled on one face to form a nearly semi-cylindrical stale socket stem portion, and a pair of channeled arm portions extending divergently therefrom, said stampings adapted to be placed in opposition edge to edge, each arm portion overlapping a part of the opposite arm, and formed to interlock them against opposite separa-tion.

16. A sheet metal D-top including a pair of complementary stampings of generally Y-form each channeled on one face to form a substantially nearly semi-cylindrical stale Socket stem portion, and a pair of channeled arm portions extending divergently therefrom, said stampings adapted to be placed face to face in opposition, each arm portion at its end being provided with an integral portion overlapping a. part of the opposite arm end, a. hand grip extending between the pairs of overlapped portions, at least one of the overlapped portions being provided with a, ierf'oration and a securing element extending through the perforation into the hand Orip.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature this 9th day of September, 1929. WILLIAM H. BERGMANN. 

